Numerical and experimental assessment of the total resistance of a yacht

Abstract

One of the main goals of the ship design process is the reduction of the total resistance, which is nowadays even more highlighted due to increasingly stringent rules related to ship energy efficiency. In this paper, the investigation of the impact of the bow on the total resistance of a yacht is carried out for three models by towing tank tests and numerical simulations. The verification and validation studies are performed, and satisfactory agreement is achieved. Also, a comparison of three turbulence models for the prediction of the total resistance of a yacht is made. The flow around the models of the yacht is analysed and it is demonstrated that bulbous bow causes the reduction of wave elevations. Experimental and numerical results indicate that the decrease in the total resistance due to bulbous bow can be up to 7%. Finally, the applicability of CFD within the ship design process is presented.